City Council Meeting – 2/17/2009
UPDATE: The Dublin City Council approved the funding of additional safety measures near John Green Elementary school tonight. Please check out Dublin Townhall for the related summary.
The Dublin City Council will be meeting on Tuesday night (2/17/09) at 7:00pm at 100 Civic Plaza. Some of the key items to be discussed include:
- Traffic Safety Measures Near John Green Elementary – the Council will consider authorizing various safety improvements recommended by consulting firm Omni-Means. The big items under considerations are to add a crossing guard ($12K/Year) and curb extensions ($50K). Please check out this related YouTube video.
- Heritage Center Website – the Dublin Heritage Center has launched a new website at http://www.dublinheritage.org/.
- Receive Outside Agency Funding – the Council is expected to take action so that up to $200K can be obtained to complete the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Council is also expected to approve an agreement to receive $2.1M in Measure WW funds.
Please join the Around Dublin Team at the City Council meeting on Tuesday night.
9:48 PM on February 18th, 2009
I just want to say “hear hear” for your comments on Councilwoman Hildebrand’s request that you censor your comments (video on the right – not sure when it was posted). “Around Dublin” is a fantastic blog – keep up the good work and call it like you see it.
12:59 AM on March 1st, 2009
Wow! The campaign donation information on Dublin Townhall is interesting.
So, where is John Zukowski’s?
(Done by an independent source)
7:27 AM on March 1st, 2009
Hi Anonymous – I received contributions from some of the same folks that contributed to the other candidates. I’m sure that Jimmy would be happy to allow somebody to post my campaign contribution info on Dublin Townhall, as well. I believe that Jimmy only placed the winning candidates info on Dublin Townhall because those are the folks that will be in situations where there could be conflicts of interest.
The big difference between my campaign and the other candidates listed on Dublin Townhall was that they were elected and will therefore have to navigate through situations where there could be conflicts of interest. If I had been elected, then I would have had to issue refunds to some of my contributors to avoid those conflicts. However, given that I was neither elected nor appointed, that’s not something that I need to worry about.
Thx, John Z.
9:32 AM on March 1st, 2009
Hi Anonymous on February 28, 2009 11:59 PM,
I am glad you found the data interesting. The campaign contribution records for all the candidates are available at City Hall. For the purpose of my project, I limited my scope to the newly elected councilmembers and mayor from 2008. I welcome everyone to check the accuracy of my work. Having said that, I will have a post about my methods and the quality of the data I had to work with later. For those who have not had the chance to visit Dublin Townhall, here are the links to what this particular reader is referring to:
Councilmember Kasie Hildenbrand’s 2008 Campaign Contribution Map
Councilmember Kevin Hart’s 2008 Campaign Contribution Map
Mayor Tim Sbranti’s 2008 Campaign Contribution Map
1:50 PM on March 1st, 2009
I find it disingenuous for these blogs to expose hard facts about electeds and ignore Zukowski. He fought hard to win, then to get selected by the council. I ask again – why does John Zukowski not show the same information as the others? How can he stand for truth and better politics if he doesn’t expose his own dealings? I can say that if Tim Hall and others make attacks against the winners I will continually ask the question about John. Good for the goose, good for the gander. Either we are for better ways of doing things or this blog is bull.
2:53 PM on March 1st, 2009
Thanks for publishing these data. I would have never expected contributions from Wisconsin of all places. I now regard Sbranti, Hart, and Hildenbrand in a whole new light, but I am not as cynical as the anonymous commenter above. I don’t think that our elected officials are necessarily in the back pocket of the developers, but how the money will influence their votes remains to be seen. They should in the very least recuse themselves on decisions that impact their contributors. That would be the proper thing to do.
Kate S.
5:35 PM on March 1st, 2009
Hi Summerglen Mom,
I agree that just because a candidate gets money from certain sources, it does not put them in the back pocket of developers. I think we should watch these folks, but also think by and large they are decent people.
My argument is about John Zukowski. How can he expose, criticize, and condemn certain actions, but when given a chance to show his own dealings, he chooses not – simply because he didn’t win? His actions using this blog to sway public opinion is just as much a conflict of interest as the others.
Should I start a timetable (like is ongoing for Hart on the council in Dublin Townhall))to report when Zukowski finally shares his own campaign contributions? Frankly, I don’t expect any surprises, but can’t help but wonder about his personal ethics.
Today is day one.
5:49 PM on March 1st, 2009
Hi Anonymous on March 1, 2009 12:50 PM -
As you alluded to in your previous comment, it makes more sense to have an independent source post the campaign contribution info about my election. However, I’d be happy to share info on the contributions that I received.
Given that I’m not on the Council, I’m not in a situation where there is a conflict of interest between my service to the City and the interests of the local businesses and land owners making campaign contributions.
If I had been elected or appointed, then I would have had to either return the contributions that I received or recuse myself from Council decisions that involved parties that contributed to my campaign.
It should be noted that I’ve spoken at City Council meetings/workshops and with Councilmembers to voice my concerns/feedback about some of the projects that developers have proposed in East Dublin. Examples have included the Promenade parking shortage, Grafton Plaza proposal of building 21-stories, the Sorrento East density increase with apartment buildings, and the Croak / Jordan property where Council made the decision to pass on the opportunity of requiring lower density on half of the project.
My interests have always been in serving the residents of Dublin. Why else would I write this blog, apply for commission and Council positions, volunteer in town, and speak on behalf of residents at Council meetings?
Thx, John Z.
5:58 PM on March 1st, 2009
Hi Anonymous on March 1, 2009 4:35 PM – I’m not sure why you seem to be so upset by the articles published on Dublin Townhall. First of all, I didn’t publish the articles. Secondly, even if I did, is there something in the articles that seem like an attack on the candidates? I re-read them and they are simply providing a database of information and maps.
Although I’m not the publisher of Dublin Townhall, I do know that everybody is free to write an article on Dublin Townhall as long as they are written in a respectful manner. Feel free to leave a comment on Dublin Townhall with your contact information and Jimmy will get in touch with you about writing an article with your opinion.
Thx, John Z.
6:09 PM on March 1st, 2009
I would like to remind the council members {Hildebrand and Hart} that this is a BLOG. May I also remind you that we as residents, have the freedom of speech to say whatever and whenever. Please don’t be a hater of the blog. John is actually trying to do something good for the Dublin residents unlike the current evil council members , in particular Hart and Hildenbrand.
Take care
C kirby